De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou

{{Short description|De Havilland Canada transport aircraft}} {{update|date=January 2026}} {{Use Canadian English|date=February 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{lowercase title}} {{Infobox aircraft |name = DHC-4 Caribou |image = RAAF Caribou Vabre.jpg |caption =A Royal Australian Air Force Caribou at Bundaberg Airport |type = STOL transport aircraft |national_origin= Canada |manufacturer =de Havilland Canada |designer = |first_flight = 30 July 1958 |introduction = 1961 |retired = RAAF (2009) |status = In limited service |primary_user = Royal Canadian Air Force |more_users = United States Army United States Air Force Royal Australian Air Force |produced = 1958–1968 |number_built = 307 |developed_into = de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo }}

The '''de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou''' (designated by the United States military as the '''CV-2''' and later '''C-7 Caribou''') is a Canadian specialized cargo aircraft with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability developed by de Havilland Canada. The Caribou was first flown in 1958 and although mainly retired from military operations, is still in use in small numbers as a rugged bush airplane. The type certificate of the aircraft is now owned by De Havilland Canada founded in 2019.

The design was further developed as the de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo, adding turboprop engines and other changes that further improved its short-field performance to the point where it competes with light aircraft even with a full load.

==Design and development== thumb|C-7B Caribou aircraft of the U.S. Army/California Army National Guard thumb|RAAF DHC-4 Caribou (A4-299) from No. 38 Squadron.

The de Havilland Canada (DHC) company's third short takeoff and landing (STOL) design was a big increase in size compared to its earlier DHC Beaver and DHC Otter, and was the first DHC design powered by two engines. The Caribou was similar in concept in that it was designed as a rugged STOL utility aircraft. The Caribou was primarily a military tactical transport that in commercial service found itself a small niche in cargo hauling. The United States Army ordered 173 in 1959 and took delivery in 1961 under the designation AC-1, which was changed to '''CV-2 Caribou''' in 1962.

The majority of Caribou production was destined for military operators, but the type's ruggedness and excellent STOL capabilities requiring runway lengths of only 1200 feet (365 metres)<ref>[http://www.c-7acaribou.com/history/images/Caribou_Brochure_Web.pdf "Caribou Sales Brochure – 1962."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919055532/http://c-7acaribou.com/history/images/Caribou_Brochure_Web.pdf |date=19 September 2010 }} ''c-7acaribou.com,'' 26 May 2011.</ref> also appealed to some commercial users. U.S. certification was awarded on 23 December 1960. Ansett-MAL, which operated a single example in the New Guinea highlands, and Amoco Ecuador were early customers, as was Air America (a CIA front in South East Asia during the Vietnam War era for covert operations). Other civil Caribou aircraft entered commercial service after being retired from their military users.

==Operational history== [[File:DHC-4 Caribou Vietnam.jpg|thumb|A Royal Australian Air Force Caribou transport aircraft on landing approach, Vietnam War]] In response to a United States Army requirement for a tactical airlifter to supply the battlefront with troops and supplies and evacuate casualties on the return journey, de Havilland Canada designed the DHC-4. With assistance from Canada's Department of Defence Production, DHC built a prototype demonstrator that flew for the first time on 30 July 1958.

Impressed with the DHC4's STOL capabilities and potential, the U.S. Army ordered five for evaluation as YAC-1s and went on to become the largest Caribou operator. The AC-1 designation was changed in 1962 to CV-2, and then C-7 when the U.S. Army's CV-2s were transferred to the U.S. Air Force in 1967. U.S. and Australian Caribou saw extensive service during the Vietnam War.

The U.S. Army purchased 159 of the aircraft and they served their purpose well as a tactical transport during the Vietnam War, where larger cargo aircraft such as the Fairchild C-123 Provider and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules could not land on the shorter landing strips. The aircraft could carry 32 troops or two Jeeps or similar light vehicles. The rear loading ramp could also be used for parachute dropping (also, see Air America).

Under the Johnson-McConnell agreement of 1966, the Army relinquished the fixed wing Caribou to the United States Air Force in exchange for an end to restrictions on Army rotary wing operations. On 1 January 1967, the 17th, 57th, 61st Aviation Companies (12th Combat Aviation Group) and the 92nd, 134th, and 135th Aviation Companies of the U.S. Army were inactivated and their aircraft transferred respectively to the newly activated 537th, 535th, 536th, 459th, 457th, and 458th Troop Carrier Squadrons of the USAF (This was Operation "Red Leaf"). On 1 August 1967 the "troop carrier" designations were changed to "tactical airlift".

Some Republic of Vietnam Air Force Caribou were captured by North Vietnamese forces in 1975 and remained in service with that country through to the late 1970s. Following the war in Vietnam, all USAF Caribou were transferred to Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard airlift units pending their replacement by the C-130 Hercules in the 1980s. [[File:DHC-4 Caribou N1017H OPA 11.11.89 edited-2.jpg|thumb|Ex U.S. Army CV-2A, operated by Chieftain Aviation, at Opa-locka Airport near Miami in 1989]] All C-7s have now been phased out of U.S. military service, with the last example serving again under U.S. Army control through 1985 in support of the U.S. Army's Golden Knights parachute demonstration team. Other notable military operators included Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia and Spain.

In September 1975, a group of 44 civilians, including armed supporters of the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT), commandeered a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Caribou, ''A4-140'', on the ground at Baucau Airport in the then Portuguese Timor, which was in the middle of a civil war. The Caribou had landed at Baucau on a humanitarian mission for the International Committee of the Red Cross. The civilians demanded that the RAAF crew members fly them to Darwin Airport (also RAAF Base Darwin) in Australia, which they did. After the Caribou arrived there, the Australian government detained the civilians for a short period, and then granted refugee visas to all of them. ''The Guardian'' later described ''A4-140'' as "the only RAAF plane ever hijacked", and the incident as "one of the more remarkable stories in Australia’s military and immigration history".<ref name="tg 2021-01-16">{{cite news |last1=Henriques-Gomes |first1=Luke |title='It was life or death': the plane-hijacking refugees Australia embraced |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/16/it-was-life-or-death-the-plane-hijacking-refugees-australia-embraced |access-date=17 January 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=16 January 2021}}</ref>

The RAAF retired ''A4-140'', by then its last Caribou, on 27 November 2009.<ref name=ABC>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091128094339/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/27/2755757.htm?section=justin "Defence 'workhorse' makes final flight."] ''ABC News'', 27 November 2009. Retrieved: 27 November 2009.</ref> The aircraft, which was manufactured in 1964, was donated to the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.<ref name="Fitzgibbon">{{cite web|last1=Fitzgibbon|first1=Joel|title=HONOURING THE CARIBOU'S SERVICE TO AUSTRALIA|url=http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Fitzgibbontpl.cfm?CurrentId=8845|website=Australian Government Department of Defense|access-date=9 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510071024/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Fitzgibbontpl.cfm?CurrentId=8845|archive-date=10 May 2009|date=9 March 2009}}</ref>

===Civilian operations=== One US Navy Caribou remained in service with the Golden Knights Parachute Team until the 1980s, at which point the aircraft transitioned into civilian use and cargo services. The Australian Air Force operated a fleet of Caribou, with the final aircraft, ''A4-140'', retiring from service in 2009.<ref name="VANCC">{{cite web |last1=Cressilo |first1=Cassidy |title=Endangered Species: The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou |url=https://vintageaviationnews.com/warbird-articles/endangered-species-the-de-havilland-canada-dhc-4-caribou.html |publisher=Vintage Aviation News |access-date=24 July 2025 |date=24 June 2025 |ref=VANCC}}</ref>

After retirement from military use, several examples of the Caribou have been purchased by civilian operators for deployment in areas with small airfields located in rugged country with few or poor surface transport links.

==Variants== thumb|Royal Australian Air Force DHC-4 ;DHC-4 Caribou :STOL tactical transport, utility transport aircraft. :;CC-108 ::Royal Canadian Air Force designation for the DHC-4 Caribou. :;YAC-1 ::This designation was given to five DHC-4 Caribou, sold to the United States Army for evaluation. :;AC-1 ::United States Army designation for the first production run of 56 DHC-4 Caribou. Later redesignated '''CV-2A''' in 1962. :;CV-2A ::United States Army AC-1 redesignated in 1962. ;;CV-2B ::This designation was given to a second production run of 103 DHC-4 Caribou, which were sold to the U.S. Army, with reinforced internal ribbing. :;C-7A/B ::These designations were applied to all 144 Caribou transferred to the U.S. Air Force by the U.S. Army. ;{{visible anchor|DHC-4A Caribou}} :Similar to the DHC-4, but this version had an increased takeoff weight. ;DHC-4T Turbo Caribou :A conversion of the baseline DHC-4 Caribou powered by the PWC PT6A-67T turboprop engines designed, test flown and certified by the Pen Turbo Aviation company.

==Operators==

===Military operators=== ;{{Flag|Abu Dhabi}}/ {{UAE}} * Abu Dhabi Defence Forces Air Wing – Abu Dhabi operated five Caribou.<ref name="ae74 p24">Henley and Ellis ''Air Enthusiast'' March/April 1998, p. 24.</ref> * United Arab Emirates Air Force thumb|Caribou at the RAAF museum. ;{{AUS}} * Royal Australian Air Force – 18 ordered in 1963, with further orders for seven in 1964 and four more aircraft ordered individually between 1968 and 1971.<ref name="raafA4">[http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/aircraft/series3/A4.htm "A4 DHC-4 Caribou"]. ''RAAF Museum Point Cook''. 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2012.</ref> Retired 2009. ** RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam 1964–1966, redesignated as No. 35 Squadron - seven operated <ref name="raafA4" /> ** No. 35 Squadron RAAF 1966–2000 – transferred to No 38 Squadron RAAF.<ref name="raafA4" /> ** No. 38 Squadron RAAF 1964–2009 – all retired.<ref name=ABC /><ref name="raafA4" /> ;{{CAN}} * Royal Canadian Air Force – nine delivered; retired from Canadian Forces in 1971.<ref name="ae74 p24" /> ** 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron ;{{CMR}} * Cameroon Air Force – two delivered in 1971. The surviving Caribou was sold in 1987.<ref name="ae74 p26">Henley and Ellis ''Air Enthusiast'' March/April 1998, p. 26.</ref> ;{{CRC}} * Air Surveillance Service – Two ex-USAF C-7As delivered in the 1980s.<ref name="ae74 p26" /> Refurbished in July 2010 for the Fuerza Publica.<ref name="Nacion Newspaper Article">[http://www.nacion.com/2010-07-30/Sucesos/UltimaHora/Sucesos2467068.aspx "Fuerza Pública revive avión militar Caribú – SUCESOS – La Nación" (in Spanish).] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130111064121/http://www.nacion.com/2010-07-30/Sucesos/UltimaHora/Sucesos2467068.aspx |date=11 January 2013 }} Nacion.com. Retrieved: 26 May 2011.</ref> ;{{GHA}} * Ghana Air Force – Ghana acquired eight new-build Caribou in 1963, which were operated until replaced by Fokker F.27-400Ms in 1975.<ref name="ae74 p26" /> ;{{IND}} * Indian Air Force – India received 20 new build Caribou, supplementing them with four ex-Ghanaian Caribou in 1975.<ref name="ae74 p26" /> thumbnail|The only Iranian DHC-4 Caribou ;{{flag|Pahlavi Iran}} * Imperial Iranian Air Force – One aircraft delivered to Iran. It was retired after Iran–Iraq War. ;{{KEN}} * Kenya Air Force – received six DHC-4As, operating the type from 1966 to 1987.<ref name="ae74 p26" /><ref>Andrade 1982, p. 141.</ref> ;{{KWT}} * Kuwait Air Force – received two aircraft in 1963.<ref>[http://www.scramble.nl/kw.htm "Kuwait Air Force (KAF)."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217175215/http://www.scramble.nl/kw.htm |date=17 February 2012 }} Scramble.nl. Retrieved: 26 May 2011.</ref> ;{{LBR}} *Liberian Army – Two refurbished aircraft were delivered to the Air Reconnaissance Unit in 1989.<ref name="ae74 p26,8">Henley and Ellis ''Air Enthusiast'' March/April 1998, pp. 26, 28.</ref> The aircraft were destroyed during the civil war. [[File:Caribou TUDM.jpg|thumb|RMAF Caribou on display at the Malaysian Army Museum, Port Dickson.]] ;{{MYS}} * Royal Malaysian Air Force – retired their Caribou from active service.<ref>[http://www.scramble.nl/my.htm "Malaysian Forces Overview."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207140138/http://www.scramble.nl/my.htm |date=7 February 2012 }} Scramble.nl. Retrieved: 26 May 2011.</ref> ;{{OMN}} * Sultanate of Oman Air Force<ref>[http://www.scramble.nl/om.htm "Royal Air Force of Oman."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701004716/http://www.scramble.nl/om.htm |date=1 July 2007 }} Scramble.nl. Retrieved: 26 May 2011.</ref> ;{{ESP}} * Spanish Air Force – received 12 new Caribou later supplemented by 24 former United States Air Force C-7As.<ref>Andrade 1982, p. 204.</ref> Final retirement 12 June 1991.<ref>Soupart ''Air Enthusiast'' March–May 1992, p. 47.</ref> ;{{Flag|South Vietnam}} * Republic of Vietnam Air Force - at least 55 transferred from USAF stocks and operated by:<ref>{{cite book|last=Mesko|first=Jim|title=VNAF: South Vietnamese Air Force 1945-1975|publisher=Squadron/Signal Publications|year=1987|isbn=9780897471930}}</ref>{{rp|43}} **427th Transport Squadron **429th Transport Squadron **431st Transport Squadron ;{{SWE}} * Swedish Air Force – operated one DHC-4 Caribou designated Tp 55 between 1962 and 1965 for evaluation purposes at Skaraborg Wing (F 7).<ref name="Caribou Roster">Buser, Wayne. [http://www.dhc4and5.org/Roster.html "Caribou Roster."] Dhc4and5.org, 4 September 2010. Retrieved: 26 May 2011.</ref> ;{{TAN}} * Tanzanian Air Force<ref name="Caribou Roster" /> ;{{THA}} * Royal Thai Police – used three DHC-4A from 1966 to 2005.<ref>[http://www.fader.dyndns.org/wings/18Police/thaipoliceplane12.htm "Royal Thai Police."]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} fader.dyndns.org. Retrieved: 27 January 2012.</ref> ;{{UGA}} * Uganda Police Force Air Wing<ref>Andrade 1982, p. 231.</ref> ;{{USA}} * United States Army * United States Air Force ;{{VNM}} * Vietnam People's Air Force – captured several ex-VNAF airplanes. ;{{ZAM}} * Zambian Air Force – operated four Caribou. Retired.<ref name="Janes 71 p19">Taylor 1971, p. 19.</ref>

===Civil operators=== ;{{AUS}} * Ansett-MAL – operated one aircraft in the New Guinea highlands. ;{{CAN}} * La Sarre Air Services ** acquired C-GVGX in 1977 (delivered 1961) and unknown status after 1981 when Propair formed from merger of La Sarre Air Services (used in El Salvador to Nicaragua 1986)<ref>[http://www.aussieairliners.org/dhc-4/vh-bfc/vhbfc.html "VH-BFC. de Havilland DHC-4A Caribou. c/n 23."] ''aussieairliners.org.'' Retrieved: 18 November 2012.</ref> ;{{CRC}} * Air Vigillance Service<ref>[http://www.scramble.nl/crbase.htm "Serial MSP002 C-7A MSN 149."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223192928/http://www.scramble.nl/crbase.htm |date=23 February 2009 }} ''Scramble.nl.'' Retrieved: 26 May 2011.</ref> ;{{ECU}} * Amoco Ecuador * Anglo-Ecuador Oilfields * Aerolíneas Cóndor of SA ;{{GAB}} * Air Inter Gabon ;{{IDN}} * Municipal Government of Puncak Regency<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.detik.com/berita/3298650/hore-setelah-pom-bensin-kini-kabupaten-puncak-papua-punya-pesawat|title=Hore! Setelah Pom Bensin, Kini Kabupaten Puncak Papua Punya Pesawat|work=detik.com|access-date=17 September 2016}}</ref> * Trigana Air<ref>{{cite AV media |title= Commercial Caribou Users (DHC-4) Page 6 Caribous on Malta|url=http://www.dhc4and5.org/C2204.jpg |website=the deHavilland Caribou (DHC-4) and Buffalo (DHC-5) web site |access-date=3 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020004018/http://www.dhc4and5.org/C2204.jpg |archive-date=October 20, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> ;{{MLT}} * New Cal Aviation ;{{PNG}} * Garamut Exploration Services * Vanimo Trading ;{{TWN}} * Air Asia ;{{USA}} * Air America * Bannock Aerospace * Chieftain Air * Deutsche Aviation * Environmental Research Institute of Michigan * Fowler Aeronautical Service * HAT Aviation * John Woods Inc * New Cal Aviation * Pen Turbo Aviation * Flightworks<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightworks.com/private-air-charter/fleet/dhc4t-turbo-caribou|title=DHC-4T (Turbo Caribou) | Flightworks|access-date=13 September 2020|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027124357/https://www.flightworks.com/private-air-charter/fleet/dhc4t-turbo-caribou|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Aircraft on display==

===Australia=== ;Airworthy * A4-210 – DHC-4 airworthy with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Shellharbour Airport, Albion Park, New South Wales. Now carries civil registration.<ref name="HARS">{{cite web|title=De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou|url=http://hars.org.au/de-havilland-dhc-4-caribou|website=HARS|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Aircraft Register [VH-VBA]|url=https://www.casa.gov.au/aircraft-register?vh=VBA|website=Civil Aviation Safety Authority|access-date=9 December 2016|archive-date=7 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007163105/https://www.casa.gov.au/aircraft-register?vh=VBA|url-status=dead}}</ref> * A4-234 – DHC-4 airworthy with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Shellharbour Airport, Albion Park, New South Wales. Now carries civil registration.<ref name="HARS" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Aircraft Register [VH-VBB]|url=https://www.casa.gov.au/aircraft-register?vh=VBB|website=Civil Aviation Safety Authority|access-date=9 December 2016|archive-date=7 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007021032/https://www.casa.gov.au/aircraft-register?vh=VBB|url-status=dead}}</ref> ;On display [[File:C-7A Caribou.jpg|thumb|C-7A 60–3767 at Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center]] thumb|A4-228 at Caboolture (2021). * A4-134 – DHC-4 on display at The Army Museum Bandiana, Bandiana, Victoria.<ref name="ADFS" /> * A4-140 – DHC-4 in storage at the Treloar Technology Centre of the Australian War Memorial in Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - de Havilland Canada-deHavilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou, s/n A4-140 RAAF, c/n 140|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=150940|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref> This airframe was gifted to the museum in November 2009.<ref name="Fitzgibbon" /> * A4-152 – DHC-4 on static display at the RAAF Museum in Point Cook, Victoria.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - de Havilland Canada-deHavilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou, s/n A4-152 RAAF, c/n 152|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=155431|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref> This airframe was gifted to the museum in November 2009.<ref name="Fitzgibbon" /> * A4-159 – DHC-4 forward section at the Queensland Air Museum in Caloundra, Queensland.<ref name="ADFS" /> * A4-173 – DHC-4 on static display at the Queensland Air Museum in Caloundra, Queensland (fitted with the wings and tail off A4-164).<ref>{{cite web|title=DE HAVILLAND CANADA CARIBOU A4-173 C/N 173|url=http://qam.com.au/portfolio/de-havilland-canada-caribou-a4-173-cn-173|website=Queensland Air Museum|access-date=9 December 2016|archive-date=25 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825090116/http://qam.com.au/portfolio/de-havilland-canada-caribou-a4-173-cn-173/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * A4-179 – DHC-4 fuselage on static display as part of a jungle-themed thrill-ride precinct at the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Potts |first=Andrew |date=9 October 2024 |title=Dreamworld: Vietnam War-era RAAF Caribou A4-179 installed in Rivertown precinct of Gold Coast theme park |url=https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/entertainment/dreamworld-vietnam-warera-raaf-caribou-a4179-installed-in-rivertown-precinct-of-gold-coast-theme-park/news-story/416c70a9c24e8a35bad33681a6a1acf0 |url-access=subscription |access-date=10 October 2024 |work=Gold Coast Bulletin}}</ref> * A4-195 – DHC-4 with the Australian Army Flying Museum in Oakey, Queensland.<ref name="ADFS">{{cite web|title=RAAF A4 De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou|url=http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a4.htm|website=ADF-SERIALS|access-date=10 December 2016|date=26 May 2016|archive-date=1 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801182732/http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a4.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> * A4-199 – DHC-4 gate guard at RAAF Base Townsville in Townsville, Queensland<ref name="ADFS" /> * A4-204 – DHC-4 on display at National Vietnam Veterans Museum, Phillip Island, Victoria<ref name="ADFS" /> * A4-225 – DHC-4 on display at South Australian Aviation Museum, Port Adelaide, South Australia.<ref name="ADFS" /> * A4-228 – DHC-4 on display at Caboolture Warplane and Flight Heritage Museum, Caboolture Airfield, Caboolture, Queensland.<ref name="ADFS" /> * A4-231 – DHC-4 on display at National Vietnam Veterans Museum, Phillip Island, Victoria.<ref name="ADFS" /> * A4-236 – DHC-4 on static display at the Aviation Heritage Center, RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland.<ref>{{cite web|title=Caribou|url=http://www.raafamberleyheritage.gov.au/caribou.aspx|website=RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Center|access-date=9 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214154929/http://www.raafamberleyheritage.gov.au/caribou.aspx|archive-date=14 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> * A4-275 – DHC-4 stored at Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Albion Park, New South Wales. * A4-299 – DHC-4 on static display at Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Heritage Aviation Association Museum at Evans Head, New South Wales.

===Costa Rica=== ;On display * MSP002 - DHC-4 on static display at Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport, Liberia, Costa Rica

===India=== ;On display * BM769 – DHC-4 on static display at the Eastern Air Command Headquarters in Shillong, Meghalaya<ref name="BR" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Sharma|first1=Sanjeev|title=Reconstructing Caribou : A Heritage Rebuilt|url=http://www.mod.nic.in/samachar/jan01-04/html/ch11.htm|website=Ministry of Defence|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040330135757/http://www.mod.nic.in/samachar/jan01-04/html/ch11.htm|archive-date=30 March 2004|date=January 2004}}</ref> * BM774 – DHC-4 on static display at the Indian Air Force Museum in Palam, Delhi.<ref name="BR">{{cite web|title=De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Aircraft/Specs/549-DHC4-Caribou.html|website=Bharat Rakshak|publisher=Bharat-Rakshak.com|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220083714/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Aircraft/Specs/549-DHC4-Caribou.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Malaysia=== ;On display * M21-04 – DHC-4A on static display at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Museum in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - de Havilland Canada-deHavilland Canada DHC-4A Caribou, s/n M21-04 TUDM, c/n 270|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=100862|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref> * A ex-RMAF DHC-4A on static display at the Malaysian Army Museum at Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

===Spain=== ;On display * T.9-9 – DHC-4A on display in San Torcuato, La Rioja.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aircraft wreck or relic at San Torcuato, Spain|url=http://www.spottingmode.com/wro/location/13708|website=SpottingMode|access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref> * T.9-10 – DHC-4A on display in Fuenlabrada, Madrid.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aircraft wreck or relic at Fuenlabrada, Spain|url=http://www.spottingmode.com/wro/location/13182|website=SpottingMode|access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref> * T.9-23 – C-7A on static display at the Villanubla Air Base in Villanubla, Castile and León.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aircraft wreck or relic at Villanubla, Spain|url=http://www.spottingmode.com/wro/location/2342|website=SpottingMode|access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref> This airframe was previously operated by the 37th Transport Wing.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} * T.9-25 – C-7A on static display at the Museo del Aire in Madrid.<ref>{{cite web|title=Exposición exterior del Museo de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica|url=http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=6BE8938A7DDC4556C125746C00315356|publisher=Ejército del Aire|access-date=10 December 2016|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045528/http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=6BE8938A7DDC4556C125746C00315356|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - de Havilland Canada-deHavilland Canada C-7A Caribou, s/n T.9-25 EdA, c/n 053|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=28337|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref> This airframe was previously operated by the former 37th Transport Wing.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

===Thailand=== ;On display * 12271 – DHC-4A on display at Camp Naresuan, Hua Hin District, Thailand.<ref>{{cite web|title=De Havilland Canada DHC-4A Caribou 12271|url=http://www.fotolibra.com/gallery/1175853/de-havilland-canada-dhc-4a-caribou-12271/|website=Fotolibra|access-date=12 June 2018|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612211334/http://www.fotolibra.com/gallery/1175853/de-havilland-canada-dhc-4a-caribou-12271/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===United States=== thumb|CV-2B 62-4149 [[File:C-7 Caribou at Fort Bragg.jpg|thumb|C-7 on display at the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum, once used by the Golden Knights parachute team]] [[File:16 19 011 caribou.jpg|thumb|detail of C-7A Caribou at Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB]]

;Airworthy * 2 – DHC-2 airworthy with John K. Bagley of Rexburg, Idaho.<ref>{{cite web |title=FAA Registry [N6080] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N6080 |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=18 August 2021}}</ref> * 62-4149 – CV-2B airworthy at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|title=De Havilland CV-2B Caribou|url=http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/index.php/component/content/article/86|website=Cavanaugh Flight Museum|access-date=9 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323203224/http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/index.php/component/content/article/86|archive-date=23 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FAA REGISTRY [N149HF]|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N149HF|website=Federal Aviation Administration|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|access-date=9 December 2016|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305015652/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N149HF|url-status=dead}}</ref> Removed from public display when the museum indefinitely closed on 1 January 2024. To be moved to North Texas Regional Airport in Denison, Texas.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Cole |date=1 January 2024 |title=Historic Addison flight museum announces closure |url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/addison-texas-cavanaugh-flight-museum-closing/287-85fe72cf-3131-4919-88ed-e92d8cfa30c0 |work=WFAA |location=Dallas, Texas |access-date=4 January 2024}}</ref>

;On display * 57-3079 – YC-7A on static display at the U.S. Army Transportation Museum at Joint Base Langley–Eustis near Newport News, Virginia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - de Havilland Canada-deHavilland Canada YC-7A Caribou, s/n 57-3079 US, c/n 005, c/r CF-LKF-X|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=7309|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> * 57-3080 – YC-7A on static display at the United States Army Aviation Museum at Fort Novosel near Daleville, Alabama.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fixed Wing|url=http://www.armyaviationmuseum.org/index.php/museum/aircraft-collection/2-uncategorised/64-fixed-wing|website=United States Army Aviation Museum|access-date=9 December 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222183634/http://armyaviationmuseum.org/index.php/museum/aircraft-collection/2-uncategorised/64-fixed-wing|archive-date=22 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - de Havilland Canada-deHavilland Canada YC-7A Caribou, s/n 57-3080 USAF, c/n 004, c/r CF-LKU-X|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=66|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> * 57-3082 – YC-7A (4th of original 5 on order) on static display at Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, TX Linear Air Park. The U.S.Army accepted delivery at the DeHavilland plant in Toronto, Ontario during late November, early December 1959. On 31 December 1966 this aircraft and equipment was transferred from U.S. Army ownership to U.S. Air Force ownership. The aircraft served the U.S. Air Force at headquarters, U.S.Air Force Logistics Command at Wright Petterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. until 1975. It was then transferred to Pope AF at Fayetteville, NC to serve the "Golden Knights" parachute team as a jump aircraft. Later, when Dyess was seeking a C-7 for display, they sent a team down to Pope AFB and secured this particular machine in 1992. The 463rd Maintenance Squadron deployed to Pope AFB to break this aircraft down so it could be brought to Dyess by a C5B Galaxy. It was officially dedicated here 2 May 1992.<ref>" The History of Dyess Air Force Base, 1941 to the present"; by Lt. Col. George A. Larson (Ret), Shiffer Publishing, Atglen, Pa., 2016. Pg. 208</ref> * 57-3083 – YC-7A on static display at the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville, North Carolina.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - de Havilland Canada-deHavilland Canada YC-7A Caribou, s/n 57-3083 US, c/n 8|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=63231|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> * 60-3767 – C-7A on static display at the Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center at Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield, California.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Veronico|first1=Nick|title=Outdoor Exhibits - DeHavilland C-7A "Caribou"|url=http://travisheritagecenter.org/html/c7a.html|website=Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center|publisher=Travis Heritage Center|access-date=9 December 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314034354/https://travisheritagecenter.org/html/c7a.html|archive-date=14 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - de Havilland Canada-deHavilland Canada C-7A Caribou, s/n 60-3767 US|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=5258|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> * 62-4188 – C-7A on static display at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.<ref>{{cite web|title=de Havilland C-7A 'Caribou'|url=http://www.neam.org/ac-dehavilland-c7a.php|website=New England Air Museum|access-date=9 December 2016|archive-date=7 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007021044/http://www.neam.org/ac-dehavilland-c7a.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 62-4193 – C-7A on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.<ref>{{cite web|title=De Havilland C-7A Caribou|url=https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196056/de-havilland-c-7a-caribou/|website=National Museum of the US Air Force|access-date=9 December 2016|date=15 May 2015}}</ref> * 63-9756 – C-7B on static display at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia.<ref>{{cite web|title=C-7A "Caribou"|url=http://www.museumofaviation.org/portfolio/c-7a-caribou|website=Museum of Aviation|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> * 63-9757 – C-7B at the March Field Air Museum near Riverside, California. Previously displayed at the Hill Aerospace Museum at Hill Air Force Base near Ogden, Utah.<ref>{{cite web|title=C-7B Caribou|url=http://www.hill.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/397286/c-7b-caribou|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019075929/http://www.hill.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/397286/c-7b-caribou|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 October 2016|website=Hill Air Force Base|access-date=9 December 2016|date=27 September 2007}}</ref> * 63-9760 – C-7A on static display at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base near Dover, Delaware.<ref>{{cite web|title=C-7A Caribou|url=http://amcmuseum.org/at-the-museum/aircraft/c-7a-caribou|website=Air Mobility Command Museum|publisher=AMC Museum Foundation, Inc.|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> * 63-9719 – C-7B stored at the Texas Air & Space Museum in Amarillo, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - de Havilland Canada-deHavilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou, s/n 63-9719 US, c/n 150|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=8800|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> * 63-9765 – C-7B in storage at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base near Edwards, California.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aircraft Inventory|url=http://afftcmuseum.org/exhibits/museum-aircraft-exhibits|website=Flight Test Historical Foundation|access-date=9 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019025925/http://afftcmuseum.org/exhibits/museum-aircraft-exhibits/|archive-date=19 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Last known Caribou delivered to U.S. Army, in U.S. Army Golden Knights markings.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

==Specifications (DHC-4A)== frameless|right|3-view line drawing of the de Havilland Canada C-7A Caribou

{{Aircraft specs |ref=''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1969-70'' <ref name=JAWA1969-70>{{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1969-70 |year=1969 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company |location=London |edition=60th |editor1-last=Taylor |editor1-first=John W.R. |pages=17–18}}</ref> |prime units?=kts  |crew=2 + loadmaster |capacity=30 pax (civil) / 32 troops / 26 fully-equipped paratroops / 22 stretchers, 4 sitting patients and 4 attendants |length ft=72 |length in=7 |length note= |span ft=95 |span in=7.5 |span note= |height ft=31 |height in=9 |height note= |wing area sqft=912 |wing area note= |aspect ratio=10 |airfoil='''centre-section:''' NACA 643A417.5; '''tip:''' NACA 632A615 *'''Basic operating weight:''' {{cvt|18260|lb|0}} *'''Maximum payload:''' {{cvt|8740|lb|0}} *'''Maximum zero fuel weight:''' {{cvt|27000|lb|0}} |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight lb=28500 |max takeoff weight note= *'''Maximum permissible weight for ferry missions:''' {{cvt|31300|lb|0}} *'''Maximum landing weight:''' {{cvt|28500|lb|0}} |fuel capacity={{cvt|690|impgal|USgal l}} |more general=  |eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney R-2000-7M2 Twin Wasp |eng1 type=14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines |eng1 hp=1450 |eng1 note=

|prop blade number=3 |prop name=Hamilton Standard type 43D50-7107A fully-feathering constant-speed reversible-pitch propellers |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note=  |max speed kts=187 |max speed note=at {{cvt|6500|ft}} |cruise speed kts=158 |cruise speed note=at {{cvt|7500|ft}} (maximum & econ) |stall speed kts=59 |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kts=208 |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range nmi=1136 |range note=with maximum fuel inc. 45 minutes reserve ::::{{cvt|211|nmi|mi km|0}} with maximum payload inc. 45 minutes reserve |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling ft=24800 |ceiling note= *'''Service ceiling on one engine:''' {{cvt|8800|ft}} |glide ratio= |climb rate ftmin=1355 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading lb/sqft=31.2 |wing loading note=maximum |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass={{cvt|0.102|hp/lb}} |more performance=

|avionics=Blind flying instrumentation standard fit }}

==See also== {{Portal|Aviation|Canada}} {{aircontent| |related= * DHC-5 Buffalo |similar aircraft= *Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer *Transall C-160 |lists= |see also= }}

==References==

===Notes=== {{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography=== * Andrade, John. ''Militair 1982''. London: Aviation Press, 1982. {{ISBN|0-907898-01-7}}. * [http://www.c-7acaribou.com/ The C-7A Caribou Association] * [http://www.dhc4and5.org/Roster.html ''Caribou Roster''] ''deHavilland Caribou (DHC-4) and Buffalo (DHC-5) website''. * "Caribou to Bow Out Early". ''Air International'', Vol. 76. No. 4, April 2009, p. 5. * Green, William. ''Macdonald Aircraft Handbook''. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1964. *{{cite journal |last1=Harding|first1=Stephen|title=Canadian Connection: US Army Aviation's Penchant for Canadian Types |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=November–December 1999|issue=84|pages=72–74 |issn=0143-5450}} * Henley, Don and Ken Ellis. "Globetrotting Reindeers: De Havilland Canada's Caribou – an Airlift Legend". ''Air Enthusiast'', No. 74, March/April 1998, pp. 20–33. {{ISSN|0143-5450}}. * Hotson, Fred W. ''The de Havilland Canada Story.'' Toronto: CANAV Books, 1983. {{ISBN|0-07-549483-3}}. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120217175215/http://www.scramble.nl/kw.htm ''Kuwait Air Force (KAF)''] entry at the ''Scramble'' (magazine) website: * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120207140138/http://www.scramble.nl/my.htm ''Malaysian Forces Overview''] entry at the ''Scramble'' magazine website. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070701004716/http://www.scramble.nl/om.htm ''Royal Air Force of Oman''] entry at the ''Scramble'' magazine website. * Soupart, Roger. "Adios Muchachas!". ''Air Enthusiast'', No. 45, March–May 1992. pp. 44–51. {{ISSN|0143-5450}}. * Taylor, John W.R. (ed.). ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971–72''. London: Janes's Yearbooks, 1971. {{ISBN|978-0-7106-1262-5}}.

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.c-7acaribou.com The C-7A Caribou Association] * [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1959/1959%20-%203033.html "Handling the DHC-4 Caribou"] a 1959 ''Flight'' article * [https://theprobe.in/the-brave-caribous-in-the-dark-how-a-transport-aircraft-was-converted-into-a-bomber/ "The brave caribous in the dark: How a transport aircraft was converted into a bomber"], ''The Probe'', 17 December 2021. * {{YouTube|2xF8gyqJ9RQ|"C-7A Operations - 1969 US Air Force Training Film"}}

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